Nonviolence, Not Arms Deals At the Metta Center, we do not try to justify nonviolence as a tool to “get what we want” alone; we look at it through the lens of a new culture altogether: exploring the space where science, wisdom, history, spirituality, and human (and animal) psychology intersect. It’s thrilling—there’s so much to… read more
Here’s to Lifelong Learning News: Our annual Certificate in Nonviolence Studies program, an in-depth exploration of the theory and practice of nonviolence, started this week. We’re immensely inspired by the group of participants, who come from all corners of the globe—and who are deeply committed to learning about nonviolence. This week’s newsletter includes all kinds… read more
For a Revolutionary Approach We want to stop the slide toward autocratic rule, in the United States and anywhere. As many nonviolence theorists believe, that can only be done by an ambitious drive toward much greater democracy than we knew before. It is not a remedial but a revolutionary approach that’s called for now. And… read more
Imagining a New Future In this edition of our bi-weekly newsletter, Metta Center board member Anna Ikeda writes about attending the UN conference to negotiate a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. She reflects on a very sobering moment at the conference—one that she says provides us with a clear opportunity to discern what real peace… read more
Happy Spring & A Friendly Reminder It might take a generation—or even several generations—for our efforts to blossom. We don’t know what will come of our work. But when we look at the history of movements for greater peace and freedom, we can get an urgent sense of why the work we’re doing now matters:… read more
What We Do in the Present Matters Mahatma Gandhi said, “The future will depend on what we do in the present.” Wisdom teaches us that no matter what we do, we cannot avoid action; even our thoughts have an effect on ourselves and the world around us. So: How do we discern the right action… read more
Let’s take action—we can do this. “It’s easier to act our way into a new way of thinking than it is to think our way into a new way of acting,” as an old saying goes. We need action. And so this edition of our newsletter can be seen as a call-to-action. Plus, you can… read more
Community Will Carry Us Through People who’ve never been active before are now engaging in activism, and many long-time activists are “amping it up.” As we become more active and engaged in response to the times, there’s a real risk for burnout and frustration, especially if things don’t happen as fast as we’d like them… read more
With Nonviolence, We Understand Something About Human Action Michael Nagler, the Metta Center’s founder and president, turned 80—and his birthday coincided with the US presidential inauguration. In his newsletter intro, Michael shares a few reflections about the work of nonviolence ahead. Also inside: tools and resources to move forward with. And, last but not least:… read more
How will you take up resistance? Nonviolence mettle: that’s what this year is asking of all of us. And that’s what this week’s newsletter is all about. Inside: tips for taking action, resources to rely upon, and inspiration to draw from. Plus: the latest episode of Nonviolence Radio, which discusses the difference between truth and… read more
